Q: I didn’t file my 12/31/21 plan year end Form 5500 by 7/31/22, now what?
A: Contact your Form 5500 preparer! First, confirm whether or not an extension applies. This would occur with a Form 5558 filed before 7/31, or possibly a special extension or automatic extension. If so, you have until 10/15/22 to file the Form 5500. No extension? The Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) is a DOL program designed for this purpose. Using this program, the maximum penalty is $750 for a small plan and $2,000 for a large plan. This is much lower than the IRS late filing penalty ($250 a day, up to $150,000) and the DOL late filing penalty (up to $2,529 per day, with no maximum).
Q: What if I didn’t sign the document restatement for my 401(k) Profit Sharing plan that was due by 7/31/22?
A: This plan document restatement (commonly referred to as Cycle 3, Tricycle or Post PPA) required signatures by 7/31/22. Contact your TPA as soon as possible, or your document provider if handled by someone other than your TPA. The steps to ensure your document remains in compliance will vary based on the type of plan document and provisions included, but the options are not as cut and dry as a late Form 5500. Be sure to act promptly!
